Three Monkeys Online

A Curious, Alternative Magazine

Makes You Long for The Big Bow Wow*

I missed the debut of RTE’s “gritty” new drama about life on the fringes of the Celtic Tiger, Prosperity. However, RTE has obligingly not only made it possible to watch the first episode on the web, but allowed aspiring writers to download the series scripts for perusal.Here’s page 1 of “stacey’s story,” copied and pasted from the PDF. (In other words, I promise this is the actual un-interfered-with script, not some lame InterWeb parody.)INT. STACEY'S BEDROOM. B+B The bedroom of a B+B in the North Inner City of Dublin. The bedroom is shabby and basic. A small bed, a window, a sink for washing in. There is also a child's cot. Still sleeping in the bed is STACEY. Stacey is 17. There is the sound of the house waking up. We hear people on the stairs and sounds of children crying. Gradually Stacey wakes. She sits up. She stares for a time at the child's cot. Stacey has a reserved, quiet persona, almost cold or damaged. Eventually she rises and stands beside the cot. Inside is her three month old daughter LORNA. The child is still sleeping soundly. Stacey watches her a moment.STACEY(softly)Baba, baba, baba.She tucks the child in, gently. She moves to the window. There is a 'no smoking' sign on the window. She opens the window and then lights a cigarette. She sits on the window sill and smokes and watches the world go by. We see that she is in the centre of the city. Occasionally she looks back into the room to check on Lorna.CUT TO:2 INT. HALLWAY. B+B – 0804 2Stacey is coming out of the communal bathroom. She has showered. There are others milling about. A rough looking woman called LINDA is having an argument with another woman. There is a four year old boy watching.LINDAWhat the fuck are you saying?WOMANI'm not saying anything Linda.LINDABetter not be.WOMANWhy?LINDACause I'll sort you.WOMANYou will?LINDAI will.WOMAN(to her four year old kid)Go on into the room Darren.STACEY’S STORY Shooting Script. 1.(CONTINUED) But as “Linda” might say, I don’t f**king want to. *For those who are blissfully ignorant of the reference, see here.